About the Aurora

A mesmerising and spellbinding celestial light show that has fascinated humankind for millennia; The Aurora Borealis is surely Mother Nature’s greatest spectacle. This section explains everything you need to know about the Northern Lights.

About us and our trips

The Aurora Zone is THE original Northern Lights holiday company. We have built up an extensive range of trusted and knowledgeable Aurora guides, photographers and experts throughout Northern Scandinavia and combined with our 6-point Aurora hunting plan, we are quite simply your best chance for seeing the Northern Lights.

Northern Lights Holidays to Sweden

The average population of Sweden is around 23 people per square kilometre, in comparison to a European average of around 100, which makes it Northern Europe's most sparsely populated country. The endless, unspoiled and captivating wilderness of Swedish Lapland is sure to have had an impact on these figures. Here is a landscape that is low on numbers of people but high on natural wonders – from the pack ice fields of the Luleå Archipelago to the sweeping Tärendö River, to the vast mountainous backdrop of Abisko.

As well as its natural scenery, Sweden (as would be expected) is home to some incredible architectural wonders also. On our trips, as well as cosy and scenically located cabins, you can opt to sleep high in the treetops at the world famous Treehotel in one of their incredible concept rooms such as the scenery reflecting mirror cube or the twig-covered Bird Nest. If this is not quite what you're looking for then you can spend an exciting night's sleep in the ICEHOTEL®, designed and crafted anew each season and showcasing incredible snow art and design.

Our trips have been designed to really make the most of this enchanting landscape and unique, unspoiled wilderness and the freedom to choose a trip and a destination that will suit what you are looking for the most.

Our Aurora Zone trips are located both above and just below the Arctic Circle, with each being carefully chosen for its distinctive highlights.

Close to the Norwegian border, Abisko is a small village location with an idyllic natural setting close to one of the largest National Parks in Sweden. Visitors from all over the world have marvelled over the beauty of the region as well as its renowned Northern Lights potential. The unique topography here is such that butt cover is usually rare, ensuring clear night skies and thus great Aurora chances.

As an option to our Abisko trips you can add a night at the world renowned ICEHOTEL® in nearby Jukkasjärvi, an experience that is always a popular choice for those adventurous types!

To the east of Sweden, Tärendö sits amongst the trees and is perfect for those seeking out some enjoyable Arctic activities along with warm and welcoming hospitality. Home to only around 200 inhabitants, the secluded village has minimal light pollution and is surrounded by beautiful forests, frequented often by roaming reindeer. The hotel enjoys a privileged position on a wide sweep of the Tärendö River and with an unobstructed view of the Northern sky, visitors regularly witness spectacular Auroras.

The final destination we offer through the Aurora Zone is Luleå, residing just below the Arctic Circle on the Bothnian Bay. Our trips here take you out onto the frozen archipelago by day, offering some unique excursions via snowshoe or hovercraft to view the pack ice formations, whilst at night there is of course great potential for Aurora viewing.

The climate of Swedish Lapland is one of long, cold winters with temperatures on average from -6°C to -20°C but they can drop lower. The snow here blankets the landscape from around November up until mid-April and this coverage is embraced wholeheartedly via snowshoes, snowmobiles, husky sleds and cross-country skis. Polar nights affect the most northerly region too, and the sun will not rise above the horizon for up to 51 days, casting this snow-topped landscape in a unique blue glow.

In similarity to its border country of Finland, the Swedish culinary scene is influenced by its surrounding landscape, reflecting the distinct flavours of the countryside. Traditional Swedish dishes regularly include ingredients such as pork, fish (commonly herring and crayfish), milk, cereals, cabbage, potato (usually boiled) and apple. Common dishes include pea soup (ärtsopa) usually served with pancakes (pannkakor), meat stew with onions (kalops) and potato dumplings with a filling of onions and pork (kroppkakor).

The trips featured here on the Aurora Zone website have been specially designed to maximise the great potential of Swedish Lapland – from the stunning scenery, to the architectural creations and the wonderful opportunity to see some incredible Northern Lights displays.

Get an expert opinion

Why not talk to a genuine travel expert. We invest heavily in sending our staff to our destinations. We experience the accommodation, we inspect the kitchens and we get to know the people on the ground.

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Activities Abroad is the UK's leading family activity holiday company. From Father Christmas, the Northern Lights and dog sledding in winter to white water rafting, canyoning and kayaking in summer we offer a compelling range of holidays to suit active families.